Where EAST meets the Northwest

of illustrations by Vishavjit Singh, whose cartoons
emerged from a tragedy — the 9/11 attacks —

is currently on view at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific
American Experience in Seattle. Vishavjit’s cartoons address the idea of "turbanphobia,"
or an irrational fear of turbans and the people who wear them, as well as
racial diversity. One cartoon celebrates one of Sikh America’s biggest
stars, Darsh Singh (left photo), the first Sikh-American NCAA basketball
player, who overcame racism to become an online hero. In a riff on artist
Grant Wood’s "American Gothic" painting (right photo), the artist uses the
famous image depicting a farmer and his wife and flips it with a Sikh couple
in turbans forced to answer where they are from. (Images courtesy of the
Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience)

From The Asian Reporter, V28, #9 (May 7, 2018), page 17.

"Wham! Bam! Pow!" now featured at the Wing Luke Museum
of the Asian Pacific American Experience

"Wham! Bam! Pow! Cartoons, Turbans & Confronting Hate," an exhibit of
illustrations by Vishavjit Singh, whose cartoons emerged from a tragedy —
the 9/11 attacks — is currently on view at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian
Pacific American Experience in Seattle. The display, which features
cartoons, photos, a shield selfie station, a turban video installation, and
an interactive space, opened this month and runs through April 14, 2019.

A Sikh American with a turban and beard, Vishavjit was a target of fear,
anxiety, and ignorance after the terrorist attacks in 2001. Verbal insults
and threats fluctuated depending on news coverage. Concerned for his
personal safety, he turned to humor and comics — one of his childhood loves
— to create Sikhtoons. His simple imagery often has an edge that pierces
stereotypes, prompts self- reflection, and promotes action while adding a
missing perspective to the comic-book genre.

Horrified by a 2012 deadly attack at a Sikh Gurudwara (house of worship)
in Wisconsin, Vishavjit decided the world needed a new superhero. At the
urging of photographer Fiona Aboud, he cast away self-doubts of body image
and put on a Captain America suit and turban, transforming into "Sikh
Captain America" — a superhero on a mission to fight bigotry and hate.

Vishavjit’s alter ego has been featured on national media, including
"Totally Biased," a comedy series with W. Kamau Bell. On the show, New
Yorkers were interviewed to find out their definition of a superhero.

One interviewee responded: "More muscles. Taller. Whiter."

Since then, Sikh Captain America has made appearances at comic cons,
political rallies, and schools, sparking dialogue and challenging common
perceptions of what it means to be an American superhero.

"Wham! Bam! Pow!" follows Sikh Captain America’s journey as he reflects
on being Sikh American and discovers the heroic power of compassion.

Many of Vishavjit’s cartoons focus on the idea of "turbanphobia," or an
irrational fear of turbans and the people who wear them. Others address
racial diversity or highlight struggles in dealing with racism.

One cartoon looks at Disney’s racial diversity onscreen and off. Another
celebrates one of Sikh America’s biggest stars, Darsh Singh, the first
Sikh-American NCAA basketball player, who overcame racism to become an
online hero. In a riff on artist Grant Wood’s "American Gothic" painting,
the artist uses the famous image depicting a farmer and his wife and flips
it with a Sikh couple in turbans forced to answer where they are from.

"Wham! Bam! Pow! Cartoons, Turbans & Confronting Hate" is on view through
April 14, 2019 at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American
Experience, located at 719 S. King Street in Seattle. To learn more, call
(206) 623-5124 or visit <www.wingluke.org>.